MONGOLIA SUNK

Sun (Christchurch), Volume IV, Issue 1053, 27 June 1917, Page 7

MONGOLIA SUNK

LOST IN INDIAN OCEAN PASSENGERS LANDED AT BOMBAY NORWEGIAN EXPLOSIVES MYSTERY TON OF INFERNAL MACHINES SEIZED The Mongolia, while on her way to Australia, was sunk in the Indian Ocean. It is reported that a British Government crisis is very near, owing to popular indignation against the hostile air raids and Lord Northcliffe’s mission to America. His Majesty the King spent a week in inspecting the Fleet at its northern base. He was satisfied that the Navy was “ready and willing’’ to fight. A brisk French attack north of Hurtebise yielded a stretch of front-line trenches and 300 prisoners. Counterattacks were broken. Drunken riots are reported from the Russian Provinces, and the authorities were forced, in self-defence, to destroy stocks of wine. MONGOLIA SUNK IN THE INDIAN OCEAN, PASSENGERS SAFELY LANDED AT BOMBAY. VESSEL OUTWARD BOUND TO AUSTRALIA. Tty Cable.—Press Association. — Copyright. Australian and V.Z. Cable Association. (Received June 27, 11.5 a.m.) MELBOURNE, June 26. News has been received that the P. and 0. liner, Mongolia, has been sunk in the Indian Ocean while on her way to Australia. The passengers were landed at Bombay. Tlie Mongolia 'was one of the best-known liners running under the flag «f the P. & O. Steam Navigation Company to Australia. She was a steel screw steamer of 9505 tons, and was built in 1901) by Caird & Co., Ltd., Greenock. Her dimensions were: Length 520 feet, breadth 58.3 feet, depth JM.B feet. In March last it was reported from Australia that a raider was at largo in the Indian Ocean, and insurance rates for vessels on that route have since several times been raised. NORWEGIAN EXPLOSIVES MYSTERY. OVER TON OF INFERNAL MACHINES FOUND. FORTY STEAMERS MISSING SINCE WAR BEGAN, Australian and V.Z. Cable Association. (Received June 27, 12.10 p.m.) CHRISTIANIA, June 26. The explosives discovery continues to greatly excite the public. Over a ton of explosive material was found in a loft, partly in bulk and partly in infernal machines, or made to resemble lumps of coal. Tn most of the cases which have been opened, part of the contents are missing, which shows that the explosives were not being merely sent to Finland. The censorship forbids the full disclosure of the facts, hut it is pointed out that 40 Norwegian steamers have disappeared since tlie beginning of the war without leaving any trace. If they were sunk by mines, the crews would have had time to get into the boats, but violent internal explosions would explain the mysteries. FRENCH SUCCESS ON AISNE HEIGHTS. FIRST-LINE TRENCHES SEIZED AND HELD. 300 PRISONERS TAKEN AND ATTACKS REPULSED. High Commissioner’s Cubic. (Received June 27, 11 a.m.) LONDON, June 26. A French official report says:—Yesterday evening, after a short artillery preparation, we attacked north-eastward of llurtcbise. We solidly organised the spur, all our objectives being attained and the German first-line trenches falling into our possession. f Itt a few moments the enemy counter-attacked our tw® extremities. A violent bombardment was broken by our fire. The enemy, surprised, rapidly attacked, but sustained heavy losses, including 300 who were made prisoner. SUCCESSFUL BRITISH NIGHT ATTACK. PRISONERS TAKEN AND HOSTILE RAIDS DEFEATED. 77 igh Commissioner’s Cable. (Received June 27, 10.45 a.m.) LONDON, June 23. Sir Douglas Haig reports;— North-westward of Croisilles we conducted a successful local operation last night. A number of the enemy was taken prisoner. At La Bassee a hostile raiding party was repulsed at night. BRISK AIR FIGHT BY NAVAL PATROL. THREE ATTACK TEN AND EMERGE SOATHLESS. nigh Commissioner’s Cubic. (Received June 27, 1.1.5 a.m.) LONDON, June 28. An Admiralty report says:—ln the course of a patrol yesterday three naval aeroplanes engaged 10 enemy machines in the vicinity of Routers. After 16 minutes’ light one of the enemy machines was brought down in flames. It is thought that two of the others were driven down out of control, hut, owing to the •lends, this fact could not he verified. Our machines returned rifely*